First Steps Into the City and Encounter

With the clinking sound of the pulling and rustling chains, lifting up the portcullis that was once blocking the southern gate entrance, Ash took his first steps into the city...

"Hey kid, wait up!"

However, he didn't walk too far just yet when he heard one of the south gate guards yell and made him stop.

Glancing back, Ash saw the guard he met just a while ago, jogging his way towards him. When the guard got close enough, he asked with a wondering expression...

"...Is there something wrong, Sir?"

"Haa~ Well, not really. I just forgot to remind you to visit the Guild first for new papers and identifications. You know, security and stuff..."

The man just paused for a bit and continued...

"It's just protocol, especially for first-timers in the city..."

"I understand. Thank you, Sir."

Ash just slightly nodded at him and politely bowed his head and thanked the guard for the reminder.

The guard also nodded at him and bade him farewell and offered his welcoming words while patting his shoulder.

"Well kid, that's all. You can go now... And, welcome to Orario by the way..."

After that, the guard turned his back from Ash and jogged his way back guarding the gate.

---

"Wow... This is delicious!..."

"Oh, this one too..."

"Mhmm... It's sweet..."

It wasn't too long ago after his talk with the guard, reminding him to visit the Guild. And currently...

"Hmm... That stall is selling drinks..."

"Sir, one pancake please..."

"Ah!... A stall that is selling Crepes..."

With each side of his cheeks bulging out after devouring food from the stalls he passed by one after another-

He strolled his way forwards while enjoying the medieval-themed atmosphere and different kinds of delicacies from bazaar stalls at each side of the street.

Fortunately, he untangled the scarf on his neck and made it as some sort of hood that covered his head before making his way onto these stalls.

Otherwise, with the level of handsomeness and charm he has, he is bound to attract lots of attention. Especially in a rowdy place packed full of people.

He did it in a way that even if his face isn't too visible in the open, he could still freely eat.

*Clap* *Clap*

"Haa~... I'm stuffed..."

Clapping his hands and patting his belly, he heaved a sigh of satisfaction after enjoying different kinds of food and filling himself to the brim.

"Now then..."

After eating his fill, Ash told Wise to scan the system map and see if he could locate the Guild Building but...

[*...Negative. The target is out of range...*]

'Well. That's that, I'll just approach the locals and ask for directions then...' he thought.

"Excuse me, Ma'am. Can you tell me which way is the Guild at?"

Turning his attention to the last stall he visited and bought food just a while ago, he asked the old lady manning her stall from different customers.

"... Oh it's you again. First time in the City?"

"Yes... In fact, I just got here from Melen."

"Hmm... You're pretty far from here. The Guild is in the Northwestern part of Orario..."

Ash and the old lady talked for a bit and finally bid her farewell and finally got on his way.

With the help of Wise and his system map, he navigated his way towards the Northwestern direction.

Along the way, he met and talked with some of the random adventurers and got a bit of information from them. Including where the entrance of the dungeon is at.

He originally thought of going directly to the dungeon but was told that he needed to register to the Guild first or he would be penalized.

Having no other choice, he finally proceeded his way towards where the Guild is located.

The adventurers also helped him by giving him the short-cut routes he should take.

---

In some cramped alley, at the western part of Orario...

Ash has been walking for quite some time now. Taking a shortcut in the alleys according to the directions given to him by the adventurers he met and the system map.

After a few twists and turns, he managed to find his way close to the western main street.

"Hmm... Let's see... turn left and I that should be just behind this establishment called Hostess of Fertility. And just directly north from there, I should be close to the Guild by then."

Rearing to start dungeon crawling with excitement that couldn't be hidden from his expression, he hurried his steps and was about to do the final turn and get out from the alleys when he bumped into something... or someone.

"Ah!"

As it came to realization that he accidentally and abruptly bumped into someone, he saw that it was a person not wanting to be identified or recognized.

'A woman? And what's with that suspicious get-up?'

He thought as he heard her high-pitched yell when they bumped into each other and wondered why she's clad-covered in broad daylight.

He couldn't see her face since she was covered in a black hooded cloak from head to her feet but the undeniable softness he felt and... well the voice was what gave her away.

Seeing that the woman was about to fall onto the ground, he hurriedly tried to grab her to prevent her ass from getting dirty.

And with his honed reflexes and speed, he was able to catch her and held her by the waist...

"I'm sorry Ma'am. I didn't see you when I was about to take a turn to the corner." he said politely.

The woman didn't speak at first and just held his shoulders seemingly in a daze.

He still couldn't also see her face fully though since the majority of it was still covered with a clothed hood.

"Ahem... No worries, I also didn't notice y-"

A short while after when Ash pulled her up to regain her footing, she spoke and shook her head but stopped in the middle of her words.

"...am?"

"...a'am?"

"Ma'am?"

Ash called out to her several times when he noticed that she was still in a daze. It took him several times to nudge her back to her senses...

"Hmm... I'm sorry. I just... saw something extraordinary..." the woman said.

"Well... are you sure you're okay though? You seem to b-"

"As I said, no harm taken..."

After hearing the woman's assurance, he nodded his head and slightly bowed to her apologizing for the last time...

"Hmm... well, I'll get going then... Have a good day!"

And with that, ash smiled underneath his scarf, greeted her, and was about to continue walking when...

"Wait!"

She exclaimed attempting to halt his steps... which she did.

"Hmm? Is there something the matter?"

Ash was wondering why she called and stopped him and thought that she may need something from him.

He turned back and saw the woman slowly making her way towards him. When she got close enough, she lifted her hands and removed her hood revealing her extremely beautiful face.

But Ash just stared at her with a blank expression on his face.

And although he admitted the fact that the woman is beautiful enough, in his point of view, it still couldn't compare to not even their maid Alfia... not to mention his wife, Erethel.

Ash just stared at her purple eyes, staring fixedly back at him, and said...

"Uh... Do you need something?"

The woman's expression stiffened and eyes wide open seeing his facial expression unchanged.

She was baffled by the fact that the attitude of the man who is currently in front of her remained calm and composed. Not showing even the slightest of change.

She was expecting that by showing her face, he would be fawning over her like what everyone does when they saw her. Yet, there he is, in front of her... eyes as clear as the skies, unperturbed.